Hydrostatic indicator.



G. HARDING, HYDROSTATIG INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. HARDING. HYDROSTATIG INDICATOR. APPLIOATION FILED APR. e, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

2 sHEsT-sHEET 2.

"the level of which is to be GEORGE HARDING, OF COEUR DALENE, IDAHO.

HYDROSTIATIC INDICATOR:

concern: that LGEORGE HARDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coeur dAlene in the county of Kootenai and State of Idaho, have invented a new and useful Hydrostatic' Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in hydrostatic indicators, and is designed to indicate the level of water or any other-liquid in atank, reservoir, or stand pipe, or of abody of water such as a lake or TIVGI', the indicator being located at any convenient distance away from the point To all whom it Be it known -where the level is taken.

The invention comprises a series of con tact lates with a contact brush or finger mova leover such plates under the influence of a float resting on the surface of the water, indicated. In connection with-the series of plates is a source of current preferably a series of battery cells, each of which is connected on one through a suitable resistance and on the other side to the opposite side to a contact plate pole of the next cell, except that the last bat tery cell of the series is connected through a variable resistance and a normally open circuit closer to an indicator responsive to electric current variation or to variations of potential The contact brush or finger under the control of the float is connected electrically to the indicator and also mechanically to the float.

'Another contact is provided and another contact finger or brush is also provided, and the additional contact plate is coupled up through a source of current and a suitable switch to a relay arranged to close a local circuit, including an alarm, when the additional contact finger closes the circuit through the additional contact plate. This additional plate and the alarm controlled thereby may be arranged as a high or low level alarm indicator.

According to one form of the invention the float is fast to a rope or cable, which in turn is wound around a wheel or drum, and

a counterweight is provided to always maintain the rope sustaining the float in a tautcondition. With such an arrangement the contact plates may be arranged in a circular series'and the battery cells may be connected up to these plates through suitable resistances while the cells themselves are connected up in series.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 6, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909. swarm; 425,411.

At any point near or remote with relation to the float-controlled mechanism, there is provided an'indicating device responsive to a current characteristm and this indicating device is further under the control of :1 normally 0 en circuit closer ating the indicating will of an observer. Furthermore, in order -1ng the current indicating device at different distances therefrom, a variable resistance may be included in the circuit, which resistance is useful in adjusting the circuit to maintain the same electrical conditions irrespective of the distance between the source of current and the indicator. Furthermore, the invention comprises an alarm system so arranged that it may be operated by an initial current of small volume and low potential through a relay so that the source of current actuating the alarm need not be subjected to the resistance of a long line. Furthermore it is possible to use a telephone by simply in cluding the same in the line wires without the necessity of providing a separate circuit since the current flowing over the line wires is not of such character as to in itself aliec't a telephone. The invention, however, is not confined to the exact arrangement of parts shown, but difl'erent arrangements may be employed so long as the salient points of the invention are retained.

. The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,-

Figure 1 is a view of one form of circuitclosing means, and Fig. 2 is a partially diagrammatic representation showing the application of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a wheel composed of a hub 1 mounted upon a shaft and from this hub radiate light spokes 3 tea rim a. which latter may have a peripheral groove for the reception of alight flexible cable 5 preferably of steel from the free end of which is suspended a float 6 de signed to be sustained upon the surface of a body of water indicated at 'i'. The float counterbalanced by a weight 8 suspended by a rope or cable 9 passing around the huh I in I opposition to the float. float on falling with a lowering of the water l level will raise the counterweight and such, for instance, as-a pus button so that the currentfor operdevice only flows at the By this means the to utilize the same current source for actualwhen the water level rises the counterweight 7 Within the path of the finger, 11 there is will rotate the wheel sustaining the float. a segment or contactplate 21out of the path Thus, whether the water level uses or falls of the finger 10, and the finger 11 is so ar-' the wheel is rotated-in the appropriate direcranged as to be out of the path of any of tion. Attached to the hub l are two fingers the contact plates 12, but the finger 11 is 70 or brushes 10, 11. In the path of the finger electrically connected to the conductor 19. is a circular series of contact plates 12, as The plate 21 may be made removable so as many-in number and of appropriate length to be placed at any point with relation to to indicate the maximum variationsin water the other contact plates and since this plate 10 level in feet or fractions'of feet or accord isintended to-close a circuit which will pro- 75 ance with any; other desired measuring unit. duce an alarm to indicate high or low water, 4 There is also provided a series of battery as the case may be, it may be placed in such cells 13, which, of course, may be replaced relation to the float that the alarm will be by any other suitable source of'current, but given at the proper'time. The contact plate 15 battery cells are very convenient means for 21 is connected to a conductor 22-including so supplying current for the purpose. The cells a battery 23 or other suitable source of elecare shown as connected up in one continuous trio current, and this conductormay lead to series and each contact plate 12 isconnected a point ad acent to the indicator and to an intermediate point of the coupling conat this pomt may include a swltch 2 1 and 20 ductor of two cells through a suitable-resistfinally terminate at a relay 25, the other 35 ance 14. One end of the series of cells is conside of which is coupled to the conductor 19. j nected directl to one of the contact seg- The switch 24: is preferably of the ordinary mnts throng a resistance 14, while the snap switch type and provided with an on other end of the series of cells is connected and ofi indication. The relay 25 may be 25 by a conductor 15 of suitable length to a of the ordinary type and, therefore, is only 90 variable resistance 16, and the movable memindicated in the drawings by a rectangle ber 17 of the variable resistance is connected without any attempt to show the internal to a push button 18 or'other normally open construction. The relay has its local side circuit closer. coupled to "a bell 26 and in the local relay tur one side of an dicator 20, the other side supply current for the actuation of the bell of which is connected to the push button 18. when the local relay circuit is closed.

The indicator 20 may be in -the form of a When the float is lowered or elevated to galvanometer of high resistance so wound as its limit of travel according to whether such to giveindications correspondingtothenumlimit is the low or high water level, then 10 her of contact'plates or segments 12. 'If the ultimately the finger 11 is brought into convariation iniheight of the float 6 be assumed tact with the plate 21 and there is estabto be desired in feet as the units of varialished a circuit from the battery 23 through tion, then the segments 12 are of such length the switch 24, which latter is normally 40 that the brush 10 will pass from one segclosed, and thence through the relay 25 back 10 'ment to the other when the variation has to thehub 1 by the conductor 19 and to the been greaterthan one foot and so continue finger 11 and plate 21'. This energizes the progressively as the level rises or falls conrelay and the local relay circuit is thereby tinuously. Since it is desirable that the reclosed, thus establishing the circuit fed by lation between the length of the segments the battery 27 and the bell 26 will commence 11 and the movement of the float should be to and will continueto ringso long as constant and also that the resistance of the the r ay circuit is closed, thus indicating to indicator should be constant in order that the observer that either high or'low water,

. the indicator may be properly calibrated, as the case may be, has-been reached,-

- and since for manufacturing reasons it IS The inventlonis not confined'to the in- 1.

advisable to make the instruments all pracdication of either high or low water but tically alike, it would follow that if there may be used in other ways. The invention were any material differences in the line re thus provides a means whereby an observer sistance the indicator would no longer truthmay ascertain from time to time. at will the fully respond to the movements of the float. water level or other fluid level ina reservoir 1 For this reason there is included in the line or container, or the water level of a natural clrcult the variable resistance 16 so that the body of water, such as a river or lake. The actual resistance of.the line-circuit may be electrical side of the device is not in operamaintamed substantially "constant, irrespection except at such times as the observer t1ve of'the length of the line, within the may desire and then remains in operation '1 limits of the device. only so long as may be necessary to take an The number of segments will of course observation, since the push button 18 while vary under certain circumstances, and may responsive to close the circuit at the will of be agreeable to the maximum possible or the operator, will automatically open the c") probable variation in the water level. circuit as soon as pressure on the push but- The hub 1 is connected by a conductor 19 circuit is included a battery '27 designed to esazsi ton is relieved. The alarm circuit, however, may remain normally closed at the switch 24, and the fact that it is closed or open is indicated by the indication there displayed. It is of course advisable that the switch 24 remain closed at least until an alarm shall be given, when it may be opened the alarm has been recognized and suitable steps taken to remedy the condition made known by the alarm. For instance,

if the indicator 20 and the alarm bell 26 be switch 24. Of course the same result will be had should the contact plate 21 be suit-- ably situated, to cause the closure of the alarm circuit when the lower level is reached, thus notifying the pump station that the pumping engines should be started.

It is to be 0 served that whenever the finger 10 passes from one segment 12 to the next segment, there is a time durin which a battery 13 is included in a locaf circuit includin two of the resistances 14 and the two bri ged contact plates 12. The movement of the float and of the finger or brush 10 is usually quite slow, platesmay be bridged for a very appreciable time. To lar short clrcuited battery 13 is the purpose of the resistances 14.

The wheel or sheave actuated by the float or counterweight, as the case may be, together with the contact segments, may be located over the body of water, the level of which it is desired to ascertain .from time to time. I

Since the showing ofthe drawing is in a large measure diagrammatic, it is deemed unnecessary to show anyv supporting structures. fIhe indicator 20 and the alarm can be located at a pumping station close to the reservoir or may be located at any other point distant many miles from the float and the parts controlled thereby, as may be expedient.

What is claimed is 1. A fluid level indicator comprising an electric circuit including means for charging' said circuit with an electric current, means for varying such current in accordance with the variation of fluid level, an in-- dicator responsive to said current variations also included in the circuit, another circuit, means under the control of the means for causing variations of current by variations and the contact prevent the draining of a particu- 1 of fluid level for closing said last named circuit at a predetermined change of fluid level, and an alarm circuit under the control of the second circuit and responsive only on the closure of the second circuit.

2. A fluid level indicator comprising a rotatable member, a float and connections therefrom to the rotatable member for moving said member in one direction, a counterweight and connections therefrom to the rotatable member for moving the latter in the other direction, a circular series of contact plates, sources of current connected together in series, connections between each current source and a respective one of the contact plates, a resistance element for preventing short circuiting included in each connection between the current sources and the respective contact plates, an indicator responsive to variations in current, an electric circuit including the indicator, means under the control of the rotatable member for coupling the current sources to said circuit, another charged circuit, an alarm under the control of the last named circuit, a contact terminal for said last named circuit, and a circuit closer carried by the rotatable member and adapted to engage the last named contact terminal'to close the last named circuit.

3. A fluid level indicator comprising a rotatable member, a float-and connections therefrom to the rotatable member for movingthe said member in one direction, a counter-Weight and connections therefrom to the rotatable member for moving the latter in the other direction, contact plates, sources of current connected in series, connections between each source of current and the respective ones of the contact plates, a resistance element for preventing short circuiting and included in each connection between the current sources and the respective contact plates, an indicatorresponslve to variations in current, a normally open electric circuit including said indicator, a circuit closer under the control of the rotatable member for coupling the current sources in series with the indicator in accordance with the variations in fluid level, means included in the circuit through the electrical indicator for momentarily closing said circuit at the will of an operator, and a variable resistance also included in the electrical indicator circuit.

4. A fluid level indicator comprising a .rotatable member, a float and connections therefrom to the rotatable member for moving said member in one direction, a counterweight and connections therefrom to themtatable member for moving the latter in the other direction, a circular series of contact plates, sources of current connected one to each contact plate, resistances included in the connections between the sources of current and the respective contact plates, an ina circular series of control of the rotatable member for closin%' the second circuit when the -fiu1d leve reaches a predetermined point, and an alarm circuit under the control ofthe relay. 15

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. v

GEORGE HARDING. Witnesses MARGARET E. MAIN, In}; H. SHAELIS. 

